Mike Dieterich

Publishing November 12, 2026

Decarbonization That Works

Decarbonization That Works: From Targets to Results, by Mike Dieterich, published by Routledge

A practical field manual for executives, operators, investors, and sustainability leaders responsible for turning climate commitments into operational reality.

The book provides a clear framework for understanding emissions, prioritizing action, executing projects, verifying outcomes, and scaling what works across facilities, portfolios, supply chains, and capital programs.

Now available for preorder.

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About the Book

The operating system for decarbonization.

Decarbonization That Works is written for the people accountable for results. It bridges the gap between ambition and operational delivery across infrastructure, energy, materials, buildings, operations, supply chains, and carbon markets.

This is not a reporting manual. It is a decision framework for leaders allocating capital, managing operational risk, evaluating tradeoffs, and creating measurable value.

The Framework

Understand. Prioritize. Execute. Verify. Scale.

  1. 01

    Understand

    Build a clear picture of emissions, infrastructure, operations, constraints, risks, and business drivers.

  2. 02

    Prioritize

    Identify the initiatives that create the greatest operational, financial, and climate value.

  3. 03

    Execute

    Translate strategy into governance, ownership, projects, and measurable action.

  4. 04

    Verify

    Measure outcomes, validate performance, and create confidence in decision making.

  5. 05

    Scale

    Expand successful approaches across assets, portfolios, business units, and supply chains.

The framework is designed to meet organizations where they are. It recognizes that every portfolio, operating model, energy system, and capital constraint is different. The goal is not perfection. The goal is disciplined progress that creates measurable value.

Who It's For

Written for the people actually delivering the transition.

  • Sustainability and energy leaders
  • COOs, CFOs, and executive teams
  • Facilities, infrastructure, and operations leaders
  • Asset owners, developers, and investors
  • Engineers, consultants, and program managers
  • Government and institutional leaders

Inside the Book

Sixteen chapters. Three parts. One practical path from targets to results.

Every chapter pairs a decision-grade framework with field experience from corporate, government, infrastructure, and environmental markets.

Part I

Foundations

Understanding the decision context.

  1. 01Why Decarbonization Now
  2. 02Forces Shaping Decarbonization Decisions
  3. 03Carbon Accounting Fundamentals
  4. 04MRV, Data Systems & Digital Infrastructure
  5. 05The First 90 Days
  6. 06Financial Decision Framework & Capital Planning

Part II

Systems & Scopes

Where emissions originate and how they are reduced.

  1. 07Electricity Procurement, Scope 2
  2. 08Decarbonizing Fuels & Thermal Systems, Scope 1
  3. 09Materials and Supply Chain Emissions, Scope 3
  4. 10Emergency Power & Backup Systems
  5. 11Building Operations: HVAC, Controls, Retrofits, Water, Waste
  6. 12Refrigerants
  7. 13Embodied Carbon
  8. 14Carbon Markets

Part III

Implementation

A practical path from strategy to results.

  1. 15Leading the Transition
  2. 16Scaling What Works

Appendices: Abbreviations & Glossary · Technology Readiness Matrix · Decision Trees · Technical Reference Tables.

Why This Book

Built from field experience, not theory.

Built from more than two decades of work across infrastructure, construction, corporate operations, government, energy systems, and carbon markets, this book addresses the realities leaders face when capital is limited, infrastructure is constrained, and organizational readiness varies. It shows how to integrate decarbonization into infrastructure planning, energy strategy, operational performance, risk management, and capital allocation.

Also by Mike Dieterich

Renew & Sustain

2014 · Amazon #1 Best Seller in Green Business

Mike's first book made the practical case for buildings and communities moving toward zero energy, water, and waste.

Decarbonization That Works extends that practitioner lens from individual projects to enterprise-scale execution across energy, infrastructure, operations, and carbon markets.

Bring the framework into your organization.

Pair the book with an executive workshop to translate the framework into your assets, your operating model, and your decisions.

Bring the Framework to Your OrganizationExplore Advisory